Apto Announces Major 240MW Data Center Campus Development in Madrid
March 13, 2026
In a significant move underscoring Madrid's rise as a key European digital infrastructure hub, Apto, a developer owned by global investment manager PIMCO, has unveiled plans for a massive new data center campus in the Spanish capital. The project represents a major bet on the sustained growth of cloud and artificial intelligence services in the region, channeling substantial investment into repurposing industrial land for next-generation computing needs.
The company announced this week that it will redevelop a former Coca-Cola bottling plant site in Fuenlabrada, Madrid, into a major data center complex. The campus will span 195,000 square meters (2.1 million square feet) and is projected to eventually deliver up to 240 megawatts of critical IT capacity across five buildings. Total investment for the transformation is estimated to reach up to €2 billion ($2.2 billion).
With building permits secured, construction is slated to begin imminently. Apto has already completed preliminary site enabling works, which include the installation of a dedicated 40MW electrical substation on the property. The development is being undertaken in partnership with local firm Arnaiz, with support from regional and municipal authorities including the Comunidad de Madrid, Invest in Madrid, and the Ayuntamiento de Fuenlabrada.
Russell Poole, CEO of Apto, emphasized the strategic rationale behind the investment. "Madrid has quickly established itself as one of Europe’s most dynamic digital hubs, and our investment here reflects both the scale of demand and the strength of the region’s long-term fundamentals," Poole stated. "This landmark campus will give hyperscale customers the capacity, resilience, and sustainability they need to grow, while delivering lasting benefits for the local economy and community."
Local officials hailed the project's economic and regenerative impact. Rocío Albert, Councilor for Economy, Taxation and Employment of the Comunidad de Madrid, noted, "It’s a fundamental project... in an area that was a completely disused industrial zone, which is going to be turned into a data center that will provide support for cloud services as well as artificial intelligence, which are so necessary to attract high economic value companies."
The Madrid campus marks a continued expansion for Apto, which was launched in 2023 by PIMCO. The company has been actively building its European portfolio, having partnered in October 2024 to develop a €300 million data center in Athens and planning a large campus in Milan. This latest project solidifies Apto's position as a growing force in developing core infrastructure within Europe's leading cloud regions, converting brownfield sites into critical digital assets to meet soaring demand from hyperscalers and AI-driven enterprises.
Source: datacenterdynamics
